Full-time enrolment of 14- to 16-year-olds in further education and sixth-form colleges
Information for further education and sixth-form colleges directly enrolling 14- to 16-year-olds for the 20242025 to 20252026 academic year.
- From:
- Department for Education
- Published
- 31 March 2023
- Last updated
-
149AugustJune20242025 — See all updates
Applies to England
Documents
College readiness-to-open checklist: from September 20242025
ODT, 16.617.1 KB
This file is in an OpenDocument format
College letter to parents and carers about pupil premium
ODT, 16.317.2 KB
This file is in an OpenDocument format
Details
Further education and sixth-form colleges are able to enrol students aged 14 to 16 on a full-time study programme and receive funding from the EducationDepartment andfor SkillsEducation Funding(DfE). Agency (ESFA). Such programmes include the study of technical qualifications alongside general qualifications, including English and mathematics, within the key stage 4 curriculum.
This guidance summarises funding arrangements, including for electively home-educated children. You can find more information in the funding regulations for post-16 provision, in the ‘Students under 16’ section.
The guidance explains:
- the timeline for delivery in
20242025 and 20252026
- college and student eligibility criteria
- statutory duties and other requirements colleges must follow
- funding arrangements
- intervention and performance measures
- data collection and publication requirements
- a list of institutions intending to enrol
It is for:
- college leaders and governing bodies
- school leaders and governing bodies
- local authorities
- parents and carers
- students
Updates to this page
Published 31 March 2023
Last updated 149 AugustJune 2024
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Update history
2026-10-06 17:03
‘Full-time enrolment of 14- to 16-year-olds in further education and sixth-form colleges’, ‘Readiness to open checklist for direct entry of students aged 14 to 16 from September 2026’ and ‘Letter to parents and carers about pupil premium’ updated for 2026 to 2027 academic year.
2025-06-09 10:43
Updated for the 2025 to 2026 academic year.
2024-08-14 15:45
Added ‘Full-time enrolment of 14- to 16-year-olds in further education and sixth-form colleges: 2024 to 2025 academic year’. Updated ‘College readiness-to-open checklist: from September 2024’ and ‘College letter to parents and carers about pupil premium’.
2023-08-29 12:40
Added Sir George Monoux College to the list of colleges intending to enrol 14 to 16-year-olds.
2023-06-27 16:30
Removed ‘Hugh Baird College’ from the Northern England colleges section.
2023-04-19 10:48
South Gloucestershire and Stroud College added to list of colleges intending to enrol 14 to 16-year-olds.
2023-03-31 10:00
First published.
Details
Further education and sixth-form colleges are able to enrol students aged 14 to 16 on a full-time study programme and receive funding from the EducationDepartment andfor SkillsEducation Funding(DfE). Agency (ESFA). Such programmes include the study of technical qualifications alongside general qualifications, including English and mathematics, within the key stage 4 curriculum.
This guidance summarises funding arrangements, including for electively home-educated children. You can find more information in the funding regulations for post-16 provision, in the ‘Students under 16’ section.
The guidance explains:
- the timeline for delivery in
20242025 and20252026 - college and student eligibility criteria
- statutory duties and other requirements colleges must follow
- funding arrangements
- intervention and performance measures
- data collection and publication requirements
- a list of institutions intending to enrol
It is for:
- college leaders and governing bodies
- school leaders and governing bodies
- local authorities
- parents and carers
- students
Updates to this page
Sign up for emails or print this page
Update history
2026-10-06 17:03
‘Full-time enrolment of 14- to 16-year-olds in further education and sixth-form colleges’, ‘Readiness to open checklist for direct entry of students aged 14 to 16 from September 2026’ and ‘Letter to parents and carers about pupil premium’ updated for 2026 to 2027 academic year.
2025-06-09 10:43
Updated for the 2025 to 2026 academic year.
2024-08-14 15:45
Added ‘Full-time enrolment of 14- to 16-year-olds in further education and sixth-form colleges: 2024 to 2025 academic year’. Updated ‘College readiness-to-open checklist: from September 2024’ and ‘College letter to parents and carers about pupil premium’.
2023-08-29 12:40
Added Sir George Monoux College to the list of colleges intending to enrol 14 to 16-year-olds.
2023-06-27 16:30
Removed ‘Hugh Baird College’ from the Northern England colleges section.
2023-04-19 10:48
South Gloucestershire and Stroud College added to list of colleges intending to enrol 14 to 16-year-olds.
2023-03-31 10:00
First published.